When it is again time for a difficulty, our present modus operandi (mode of operation) is irrelevant as related to the outcome of it! The outcome is the same whether we “endure its hardness” (2 Tim 2:3) or have yet to learn to endure, because it has already been purposed for “good” (Rom 8:28). Know this, that every trial teaches the believer something that is related to trusting God’s Word concerning this “goodness.” Considering the outcome is predetermined, what does change is the betterment of how we endure. Though opposition (often from old self) will result in an “evil thought against me, God purposes it for good” (Gen 50:20).
In 1915 Alabama lost 60 % of their cotton crop (primary industry) to the boll weevil and 4 years later tried peanut crops. This not only resolved their economy but also brought prosperity, and out of appreciation Enterprise, AL constructed a statue for a commemorative to the prosperity. The dedication was not to the peanut that saved them—but to the boll weevil that led to the peanut!

There’s nothing that will hinder what God has already planned for your “good” concerning it, and every individual difficulty (nominal or significant) is a test! The good news concerning each testing is that they are always “according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself,” which is “according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (every single thing leads to this),” e.g. the testing always strengthens (never decreases) our faith, which He eventually reveals to each; and this increase of our faith is so that we progressively “grow up into Him (Christ) in all things (Eph 1:9; 3:11; Eph 4:15), thus maintaining the Father’s primary goal of “being conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:28; 2 Cor 3:18).

One important thing this article reminds us of is that when we are comforted “in all our tribulation,” it is also so “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor 1:4).
NC

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Withstand and Stand!​

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Storms, natural scientists tell us, “clear the atmosphere.” But it is only those who outlive the storm who can appreciate that as a moral truth. It would be a poor consolation to a mariner in a sinking ship.

The great thing in a storm is to outlive it. I consider a man has not outlived a storm in the church if he has been driven on the rocks, and stranded high and dry. It has carried him, and made a victim of him. But a man has outlived the storm if he has put his head to the wind, and has hauled down every bit of canvas, and stood out boldly to sea. He knows there is a storm, he has made everything snug on board, and he refuses to be driven by it. He resists, and really only wants to hold his own.

Now, apart from figure, my impression as to your course at this time is that you have to go on, not indifferent to the storm, but refusing to be adversely influenced by it. Your course and progress may be checked, as indeed it must be, but persistent purpose to maintain the course as God has taught it to you will weather the storm.

The difficulty is simply to hold your own, to be as isolated as a ship at sea, and as true to your course as if you had the most prosperous weather. You may feel how small you are, how lonely you are. The fine fleet you set out with may seem to you all dismasted and wrecked, but your safety, remember, may be the safety of many. It is not any great battle deeds you are called on to do, but it is simply to keep yourself safe, to outlive the storm, not to be as one under it in any way (our “safety” and “battles” never have to do with retaining salvation—but growing in the regeneration of it, i.e. “work out [of] your own salvation” – Phil 2:12—NC).

You may reply, this is no easy matter; but there is nothing for which there is not power with God. Go on firmly, not as if there had been no storm, but as if it had not altered you one bit. Yet, you are as inflexibly bound to your post as if there had been no storm, but you are aware all the time how others have suffered and were driven by it.

Your help to them consists in showing them how little it has baffled you; when there comes a lull, if you are safe yourself you can do great service to the wrecked ones. You will not preach navigation to them, but you will minister to their needs, and seek to restore their shattered frames to health and vigor, before you even allude to the bad and ignorant seamanship by which you were so exposed. You will, in fact, gather up the fragments; you will try to articulate the disjecta membra (scattered fragments).

A patient should never be allowed to touch on his malady until he is well of it. Occupy yourself with all the good that remains. When God acts, even in nature, He always separates the precious from the vile. The former is the thing to be preserved, and this, in my judgement, is your path at this time.

- J B Stoney

MJS devotional for September 30:

“Spiritual hunger and thirst are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, while at the same time they are enlarged for more of Him. This satisfaction overwhelms all lesser longings. Fleshly yearnings are never fulfilled, and every attempt at such satisfaction soon cloys.” - MJS

“Do we think of, and rejoice in, our blessings more than in the Person in whom we have them? As to even our doctrinal blessings, there is a wonderful charm about them when they are new to us, and they sustain the soul for a certain time; but when the first joy of them passes away, a settling-down process commences. Every new bit of blessing may seem to put a new bit of life into us, but it gradually loses its luster and power, and we become just ordinary Christians—we make very little progress.” – CAChttp://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

Your help to them consists in showing them how little it has baffled you; when there comes a lull, if you are safe yourself you can do great service to the wrecked ones. You will not preach navigation to them, but you will minister to their needs, and seek to restore their shattered frames to health and vigor, before you even allude to the bad and ignorant seamanship by which you were so exposed. You will, in fact, gather up the fragments; you will try to articulate the disjecta membra (scattered fragments).

A patient should never be allowed to touch on his malady until he is well of it. Occupy yourself with all the good that remains. When God acts, even in nature, He always separates the precious from the vile. The former is the thing to be preserved, and this, in my judgement, is your path at this time.

<>< Radically Saved ><>

When it is again time for a difficulty, our present modus operandi (mode of operation) is irrelevant as related to the outcome of it! The outcome is the same whether we “endure its hardness” (2 Tim 2:3) or have yet to learn to endure, because it has already been purposed for “good” (Rom 8:28). Know this, that every trial teaches the believer something that is related to trusting God’s Word concerning this “goodness.” Considering the outcome is predetermined, what does change is the betterment of how we endure. Though opposition (often from old self) will result in an “evil thought against me, God purposes it for good” (Gen 50:20).

Amen and Greetings Sir,
One important key that believers need to also understand is attitude.
We can take the attitude of why me and fuss and complain and totally miss a wonderful blessing, growth or even a desire being met.

Many years ago the Father taught me the following.....even though it's not a path I would choose to walk, if I will trust Him and do as He has written then He Will Truly Get Me to the other side.

Patience and Trust are key.
Just as James 1:2-4 says
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.

3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance andsteadfastness and patience.

4 But let endurance andsteadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

If we never went through tough times or things our endurance or patience would not be exercised, strengthened or become able to stand in all situations.

As scripture says., when you have done everything.....Stand....that's the time when people either win or lose a battle.

Thank you for posting Withstand and Stand! We went through a horrible split last Novemeber and for the next 9 months felt the storm in the church. During that time we were led to encourage our church family to help one another in areas of loving, praying, visiting and helping in anyway we can.

The key was helping others in and outside of the church and instead of enduring our setback individually, we teamed up and helped others. What a blessing not only to others but for ourselves.

God gets all the glory. He was the one who knew what we would go through and through our faith, Christ carried and taught us so much to build on.

Our church family is experiencing a cleansing, purification and stronger bond with one another. We have healed.

Members have stepped up and started taking on new ministries within the church. We have new visitors who want to become members.

We're going through a good season and want to build on it. There is still so much work to do for the Kingdom.

John 16:33, I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

I believe through the storms peace was a major KEYthat sustained us. We can think better with peace, the peace of God.

For 9 months we withstood, together, and today His church is still standing.

I know what you mean. I believe our attitude is determined by what we understand, because no matter how you desire your attitude to be it will always reflect your understanding concerning God's Word. For example, if we understand and believe that everything we encounter is "worked" for our "good," we eventually realize to accept what occurs in our life as in His control for those who love Him. He already knows the sins and mistakes that will befall us but this never alters what He has already purposed (good). Some think it's attitude produces elevation but it's where we are in our elevation that determines
our attitude.

If we never went through tough times or things our endurance or patience would not be exercised, strengthened or become able to stand in all situations. As scripture says., when you have done everything.....Stand....that's the time when people either win or lose a battle.

True, but we know God will train us (discipline in love) with the trials He arranges, and He ensures the believer that he will eventually learn to stand in Him--"he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand" (Rom 14:14), and "keep you from falling" (Jude 1:24).

Thank you for posting Withstand and Stand! We went through a horrible split last Novemeber and for the next 9 months felt the storm in the church. During that time we were led to encourage our church family to help one another in areas of loving, praying, visiting and helping in anyway we can.

The key was helping others in and outside of the church and instead of enduring our setback individually, we teamed up and helped others. What a blessing not only to others but for ourselves.

God gets all the glory. He was the one who knew what we would go through and through our faith, Christ carried and taught us so much to build on.

Our church family is experiencing a cleansing, purification and stronger bond with one another. We have healed.

Members have stepped up and started taking on new ministries within the church. We have new visitors who want to become members.

We're going through a good season and want to build on it. There is still so much work to do for the Kingdom.

John 16:33, I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

I believe through the storms peace was a major KEYthat sustained us. We can think better with peace, the peace of God.

For 9 months we withstood, together, and today His church is still standing.

Thanks BIF for sharing this about your Church and that you find the material useful! I believe the primary goal concerning everything in the Body of Christ has to do with the quality of fellowship with the saved, because love to others, "especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal 6:10) is always God's priority for the believer.

Account Closed

I know what you mean. I believe our attitude is determined by what we understand, because no matter how you desire your attitude to be it will always reflect your understanding concerning God's Word. For example, if we understand and believe that everything we encounter is "worked" for our "good," we eventually realize to accept what occurs in our life as in His control for those who love Him. He already knows the sins and mistakes that will befall us but this never alters what He has already purposed (good). Some think it's attitude produces elevation but it's where we are in our elevation that determines
our attitude.

True, but we know God will train us (discipline in love) with the trials He arranges, and He ensures the believer that he will eventually learn to stand in Him--"he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand" (Rom 14:14), and "keep you from falling" (Jude 1:24).

In terms of elevations producing attitude, consider this. Mary was distraught when Jesus stayed away three days and in thr meantime Lazarus died. Yet Martha was relatively calm and although not yet fully believing still understood about the resurrection.

It was never that both sisters didnt want their brother to die, because no matter how much we something to happen and if it doesnt happen its not actually related to how much we prayed or begged or petitioned or waited. Its just coming to understand the truth and accepting the miracle, that YES Lazarus is going to be resurrected no matter what - because Jesus ALREADY knew that was Gods purpose for his children.

JEsus wasnt weeping over Lazarus dying, he was weeping because people didnt believe Him!

Another example. Abraham had a promise from God. It wasnt that Abraham decided by himself he was going to have an heir- God had promised him. So when Sarah suggested lets take a shortcut and have a surrogate bear our child that wasnt making Gods promise happen. GOd waited until the time was right and then opened Sarahs womb, He didnt accept just because Sarah had Hagar bear a child that that would be the child of promise. GOd had already promised! We cannot do anything on our own to make Gods promise happen (including fussing and complaining) we just need simply to believe in Him.

In terms of elevations producing attitude, consider this. Mary was distraught when Jesus stayed away three days and in thr meantime Lazarus died. Yet Martha was relatively calm and although not yet fully believing still understood about the resurrection.

It was never that both sisters didnt want their brother to die, because no matter how much we something to happen and if it doesnt happen its not actually related to how much we prayed or begged or petitioned or waited. Its just coming to understand the truth and accepting the miracle, that YES Lazarus is going to be resurrected no matter what - because Jesus ALREADY knew that was Gods purpose for his children.

JEsus wasnt weeping over Lazarus dying, he was weeping because people didnt believe Him!

Another example. Abraham had a promise from God. It wasnt that Abraham decided by himself he was going to have an heir- God had promised him. So when Sarah suggested lets take a shortcut and have a surrogate bear our child that wasnt making Gods promise happen. GOd waited until the time was right and then opened Sarahs womb, He didnt accept just because Sarah had Hagar bear a child that that would be the child of promise. GOd had already promised! We cannot do anything on our own to make Gods promise happen (including fussing and complaining) we just need simply to believe in Him.

Pretty good insight! Myself, I beleive He also knew they did not understand yet about His soon resurrection, and so felt their sadness with them. This can be seen by Mary in John 20:11, 13, 15 and by the rest in verse 9; though they all understood of "the resurrection at the last day" (John 11:24).